Vocational higher education vital to boost skills, but needs clearer marketing to employers and students

Citation

(2004), "Vocational higher education vital to boost skills, but needs clearer marketing to employers and students", Education + Training, Vol. 46 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2004.00446aab.001

Vocational higher education vital to boost skills, but needs clearer marketing to employers and students

Vocational higher education vital to boost skills, but needs clearer marketing to employers and students

Vocational higher education is valued highly by employers as an alternative to a first degree. But many are confused about the distinct roles and levels of these qualifications, says a report from the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). The research, conducted by the Centre for Higher Education Research and Information at the Open University on behalf of LSDA, involved a six-month study to discover employers' and students' perceptions of higher-level vocational qualifications. It showed that tried-and-tested qualifications such as HNDs and HNCs (higher national diplomas and certificates) were well-regarded, particularly in construction and engineering. But almost all employers voiced an urgent need for clearer information about wider HE qualifications, particularly the new foundation degrees.

More than half a million students are studying for sub-degree level qualifications in universities and colleges in England. These qualifications include HNDs and HNCs, DipHEs (dominated by nursing), NVQs at Levels 4 and 5, and a wide range of certificates and diplomas awarded by professional bodies. Increasing the number of people qualified at this level is regarded by government as essential if Britain's productivity is to be improved.

The findings are based on in-depth interviews with personnel in five occupational sectors – general business, IT and computing, engineering, construction, and hospitality and leisure management. In addition, interviews were conducted with a small number of students, careers advisers and teaching staff in colleges and HE institutions. The main findings and issues of the report include:

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  Employers vary in the value they place on different higher-level qualifications. Some (notably those in construction and engineering) prefer HNDs or HNCs as they develop technical and practical skills. Others (notably the larger employers in the business sector) still prefer to recruit graduates, particularly where greater breadth or generic behavioural and analytical skills are needed.

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  Many employers are confused about the role and purpose of foundation degrees, particularly the use of the term "foundation" which is already used in other contexts. In sectors where HNDs and HNCs are well-established most employers see no obvious need to introduce new awards and indicate that more marketing needs to be done before they will buy into the idea. But many anticipate that foundation degrees could become an important vehicle for developing the skills and knowledge of those already in the workplace.

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  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) prefer to recruit suitably qualified people with some work experience, with the emphasis on the latter. But small businesses do not necessarily understand what set of skills and knowledge are signified by particular qualifications and new recruits are often unable to explain how their skills can be of value to the business. The research also found that SMEs were highly critical of external training for high-level technical skills, complaining of insufficient hands-on experience, inappropriate content and insufficient assessment of learners' progress.

Focus group discussions with students revealed some "employer snobbery" about degrees. Students believed that employers used qualifications as a screening device and gave preference to recruits with the "right" qualifications, usually full degrees. But others felt that the practical nature of sub-degrees, plus the commitment shown by studying part-time, would be attractive to employers. The contradictory signals from employers, the labour market and educational institutions about vocational HE was creating confusion, they said. Students also expressed concerns about the lack of visibility of sub-degrees on the job market and their lack of clear identity. Few were well informed about the immediate job prospects offered by the qualifications they were pursuing or current labour market needs, and few had any clear career plans.

The research was funded by the Learning and Skills Council, the Council for Industry and Higher Education, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Vocational Higher Education – Does It Meet Employers Needs, by Brenda Little et al. is available from Information Services, LSDA, Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street, London W1F 7LS. Tel: 020 7297 9144; E-mail: enquiries@LSDA.org.uk or visit our Web site: http://www.lsda.org.uk/pubs/